FS1 analyst Skip Bayless recently offered a rare compliment to LA Lakers superstar forward LeBron James after the LA’s 132-127 overtime loss to Sacramento on Sunday. However, in typical Bayless fashion, it was a backhanded compliment as he followed it up with a subtle dig at James.
Bayless’ comments were made on X, formerly known as Twitter. The analyst tweeted about James’ productive night but couldn’t resist pointing out that James’ former Lakers teammate, Malik Monk, played better than him in overtime.
Bayless tweeted, “LeBron played pretty well, but ex-Laker Malik Monk was better in OT with 11 points. Lakers lose by five.” This backhanded compliment is not uncommon for Bayless, who frequently has controversial takes on athletes and teams.
Bayless’ tweet showcases both a degree of acknowledgement for LeBron James’ performance that night and a criticism in comparison to Malik Monk’s overtime showing. It also highlights the Lakers’ unfortunate loss by five points, adding insult to injury for James and his team.
Fans of both LeBron James and the LA Lakers may feel frustrated with Bayless’ comments, as they often do with his divisive opinions. Overall, it appears that while bayless acknowledges James’ skill, he continues to take subtle jabs at the superstar whenever possible.
